Winter Melon Soup

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Taste of Asian Food

YIELD: 4 BOWLS

 

This winter melon soup recipe 冬瓜汤 is the adaptation of my mother's recipe, which she cooked for our family when I was young.

 

I like the subtle flavor of winter melon and the aroma of dried shiitake mushrooms. This soup just hit the bullseye, and I missed it so much since I am no longer staying with her.

 

Ingredients

 

For the stock

• 6 cups of chicken broth

 

For marinating the meat

• 200g chicken, minced
• 1.5 tbsp wine (optional)
• 2 tbsp light soy sauce
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

 

Others

• 900g winter melon (600g after removing the pith and skin)
• 1 tsp goji berries
• 5 dried red dates
• 6 medium-size Shitake dried mushrooms
• 2 tsp dried shrimps
• 3 slices ginger
• 1 small carrot, about 100g
• Salt and white pepper to taste

 

Instructions

 

Prepare the ingredients:

• Cut off the skin of the winter melon. Remove the pith and cut the winter melon into small cubes.
• Soak the goji berries and dried red dates with water. Cut the red dates to half and remove the seed.
• Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in water until it is fully hydrated. Remove the stem and cut them into small dices.
• Keep the mushroom stock, added to the soup later.
• Soak the dried shrimps in water until rehydrated. Toast the dried shrimps with a small pan until it smells fragrance.
• Cut the carrot into small wedges.
• Marinate the chicken meat with salt, cornstarch, soy sauce, and wine.

 

Prepare the soup:

• Prepare 6 cups of soup base by using one litre of chick stock. Bring it to a boil. (Refer to the text if you want to prepare from scratch)
• Add red dates and the mushrooms, followed by the winter melon, dried shrimps, and goji berries.
• Test the doneness of the winter melon after fifteen minutes.
• Once the winter melon has the right texture, add the minced mea
• Season the soup with salt and ground white pepper, and serve.

 

For more tips on this recipe, click here to the original article!

 

Source: Taste of Asian Food. Reproduced with permission.

 

 

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